Abstract
Market garden products can carry several types of microorganisms, and their consumption is the source of many cases of food poisoning. This work aimed to improve food safety in Benin. In characterizing strains of K. pneumoniae and fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. at the biochemical and molecular level, the target was to identify contaminated watering water and garden products sold during Cotonou in both the dry and rainy seasons. A total of 164 samples of market garden products and 22 samples of watering water were investigated. The results showed that 5.91% of market garden products and watering water were contaminated by K. pneumoniae and 20.43% by fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. During the dry season, cabbage was most contaminated by fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. (50%). Pool water was more contaminated with K. pneumoniae (17%). All isolated strains were resistant to both amoxicillin and penicillin. All strains of K. pneumoniae and fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. were not resistant to imipenem, and 22% of them produced penicillinase. Among the 49 strains producing penicillinase isolated, 64.29% and 21.43% carried blaTEM and blaSHV respectively while 14.28% carried blaCTX-M genes. In light of the previously-developed results and considering the importance of horticultural products in Beninese food habits, we must improve national awareness of the risk for foodborne illness.
Highlights
In West Africa, commodity garden products or “commodity food” is eaten almost daily by urban and rural households rather than “luxury goods” essentially consumed in urban areas, restaurants and multi-person households [1]
The slogan of five fruits and vegetables per day is known in the whole world
This study was designed to inform the population about the biochemical and molecular strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae and fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. that were very harmful to human health and isolated from watering water and vegetable products in Cotonou (Benin) during different seasons
Summary
In West Africa, commodity garden products or “commodity food” is eaten almost daily by urban and rural households rather than “luxury goods” essentially consumed in urban areas, restaurants and multi-person households [1]. Urban agriculture has become important in Africa today because of its spatial visibility, with many small gardens for the pleasure of visitors [4] Due to these factors, vegetables are essential for the health and preservation of the human species. The lack of financial means for the supply of water and synthesis of soil fertilizers is the reason why vegetable farmers use wastewater from swamps and other sources for irrigation and manure from animals as fertilizer for the soil [6] [7]. These practices promote serious contamination of vegetables by microorganisms that might prove dangerous to the consumer. Flowing storm water carries microorganisms coming largely from domestic or wild animal defecation [9]
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